E-Crane

From local innovator to global player

What once began as a small engineering firm in East Flanders has today grown into an internationally successful crane company. E-Crane – run by Lieven Bauwens and supported by his children Tycho and Isabeau – is known for its innovative port cranes and global presence. It has offices in Europe, America and Southeast Asia and a turnover of 77 million euros. This family business continues to grow without losing its human and personal approach. 
 

The origin of E-Crane

In 1990, E-Crane started out with just eight employees as a specialised engineering firm in heavy engineering. They quickly expanded their business by also servicing machinery, including overhauling cranes. By 1996, their experience led them to launch their own harbour crane, the E-Crane. The company has since expanded its product range to include wind turbine towers and sites worldwide. It is a well-known and respected player in the port industry. 

Customer-driven innovation

E-Crane’s customer-centric approach makes it stand out. Innovations, often arise from clients’ immediate needs, such as for instance their floating cranes. This close collaboration approach allows the company to continuously improve and innovate. ‘We listen to our clients and their feedback helps us further develop our products,’ said Lieven. The company also has a strong focus on sustainability with efficient cranes that minimise energy consumption. This is a key advantage in bulk transhipment. 

Personal approach

As a family business, our lines of communication are short and we are heavily involved at all levels. ‘We have an eye for the human side, both within the company and with our clients,’ said Isabeau. The personal approach makes E-Crane not only successful, but well liked by clients and co-workers. Flexibility and quick decision-making mean co-workers are more likely to be given responsibility and involved in challenging projects. This is often much more difficult at larger companies. 

International yet local

E-Crane remains anchored locally despite increasingly targeting the international market. For example, they invest in local projects and support the community in Poland where they have their own production site. This combination of local commitment and international growth makes the company an example of sustainable and responsible business. 

Future-oriented and sustainable

Tycho and Isabeau look to the future with confidence. ‘If possible, we want to keep the business within the family and keep innovating,’ said Tycho. E-Crane has laid a solid foundation for further expansion due to its strong focus on product development, after-sales support and sustainable growth. Besides the harbour cranes, the company also builds for wind turbine towers. So it contributes to green energy production. This keeps E-Crane relevant in both traditional and sustainable industries. 

E-Crane is a family business with a global vision. They won their place in the international market with their customer-centric innovation, personal commitment and a strong focus on sustainability. Its rich history and clear plans for the future ensure the company continues to grow without losing sight of their core values. It is a perfect example of a family business successfully integrating a sustainable way of working into their operations. 

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This article is part of our 10-part series on sustainable entrepreneurship within family businesses. In our book ‘Huis van vertrouwen / Trésors de famille’, 10 inspiring family businesses share their story and look on the future. 

You can find the book in all bookstores or on the Pelckmans website: 

To realise the further growth of E-Crane, BDO's experts assist the company with our multidisciplinary expertise.